Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit, you must achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%.

We strongly encourage all students to actively participate in all learning activities in order to achieve a mark >50%. Regular engagement is crucial for your success in this unit as these activities provide opportunities to deepen your understanding of the material, collaborate with peers, and receive valuable feedback from instructors to assist in completing the unit assessments. Your active participation not only enhances your own learning experience but also contributes to a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for everyone.

Planning your Time to Complete Assessments

Full details and instructions for the two major assessments will be provided on iLearn. You need to plan your study time well in advance to complete and submit these on time. You will develop skills and gain an understanding of the core concepts through the lectures and practical classes, which will help you with your assessment tasks. Please let us know if you are having any problems in advance, or as soon as possible. We are here to support you! 

Assessment Submission Deadlines

All assessments (except for the exam) must be submitted by 11.55 pm on their due date (these are not negotiable).

A 1-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical concern. Should these assessment deadlines be missed due to illness or misadventure, or if you have a significant timetable clash with a major activity in another unit (e.g. a professional placement for another class), students should apply for an extension via the Special Consideration process (see below). Note: Assessment tasks being due at the same time as those in other units are not grounds for an extension. If you have commitments that will significantly impact your study during the session then you must plan for this in advance as part of an effective individual study plan. 

Late Submission Policy

Penalties apply for late submission of assessments:

• 5% penalty per day: If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days.

  • Example 1 (out of 100): If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100.

  • Example 2 (out of 30): If you score 27/30 but submit 1 day late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30.

• After 7 days: Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0.

• Extensions:

  • Automatic short extension: Some assessments are eligible for automatic short extension. You can only apply for an automatic short extension before the due date.

  • Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration.

Need help? Review the Special Consideration page HERE

Submission of Assessments

The two major assessments must be submitted online through Turnitin. Links for the submission of each assessment will be available on iLearn.​ The final exam will be held on-campus during the formal examination period. 

Assessment Criteria

Assessment at Macquarie University is standards-based, as outlined in the Assessment Policy. This means that your work will be assessed against clear criteria -you should understand the general unit criteria below and refer to specific criteria for each assessment task on iLearn. In this unit we expect quality in your assessments and a level of knowledge and comprehension of course content that sets the foundations for further study. Grades for each assessment task and the unit as a whole will be awarded as Fail (F), Pass (P), Credit (Cr), Distinction (D) and High Distinction (HD).

	Developing	Functional	Proficient	Advanced
General description of the level of attainment	Has not yet reached the desired standard.   A Fail (F) grade would be awarded.	Has reached basic academic standards.   A Pass (P) grade would be awarded.	Has completely reached the standards expected.   A Credit (Cr) would be awarded.	Has gone beyond the expected standard.   A Distinction (D) or High Distinction (HD) grade would be awarded.
Knowledge and understanding	Limited understanding of required concepts and knowledge.	Can accurately reproduce required facts, but has limited depth of understanding of basic concepts.	Exhibits breadth and depth of understanding.  Uses terminology accurately in new contexts and transfers ideas to new situations.	Exhibits breadth and depth of understanding of concepts.  Can engage in productive critical reflection.
Analysis	Analysis skills are limited.	Analysis skills are largely descriptive with limited capacity to combine multiple factors.	Can synthesise data and other information, and able to critique the value and importance of scientific arguments.	Can synthesise and analyse complex data and other information. Is capable of placing examples in context of big ideas, problems and solutions.
Information literacy	Uses immediately available information without discretion.	Can select useful information.  Does not always discriminate between types of sources of information.	Independently selects useful information and can discriminate between types of sources of information.	Independently selects useful information and can critically discriminate between types of sources of information.
Communication and writing skills	Poor written communication skills (e.g. spelling and grammar).  Does not demonstrate an understanding of what is expected in assignment writing and presentation.	Communicates ideas adequately in writing.  Adheres to most basic requirements for written work and assignment presentation.	Communicates effectively and clearly in writing. Adheres to all expectations of assignment writing and presentation.	Communicates effectively and clearly in writing and through other forms e.g. figures, tables.  Adheres to all expectations of assignment writing and presentation.

Assessment Marking and Feedback

The two major assessments will be marked through Turnitin and feedback will be noted on the assessment and provided to the class in a summarised format via iLearn. Your grades will be returned using the Grades Report on iLearn, including grades for the final exam.

We aim to return your assessments with feedback within 2-3 weeks of the date that you submit your assessment. We appreciate your patience and will advise you through iLearn when your marked assessments and feedback are available for viewing.

At all stages in this unit we will try to give you constructive feedback on your understanding and performance. The unit has been structured so that practicals and assessment tasks allow us to monitor your progress and understanding throughout the unit. If at any stage you wish to receive guidance on the content of the unit or your performance then we encourage you to approach one of the staff and arrange a meeting. Likewise, if you would like more detailed feedback or explanation of the feedback you have received then please approach the staff member who gave this feedback to arrange a meeting.

We also appreciate your constructive feedback too. Our goal is to improve our teaching and your learning continuously. We ask for your feedback at the end of semester and value your specific comments. We are also happy to receive your comments throughout the semester.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Assessments

Macquarie University has adopted a two “lane” approach to AI and assessments:

1) AI Open: Unsupervised assessments where the use of generative AI tools cannot be feasibly prevented or reliably detected. Students can use AI for these in accordance with definitions of responsible use. Information on responsible use of AI is available on the unit iLearn page. It is important to recognise that the principles of academic integrity still apply to using AI. That is, you must ensure that the work you submit for assessment is your own and all sources of information are appropriately acknowledged.

2) Observed: Assessments partly or wholly undertaken in supervised environments where conditions are controlled and AI is either not permitted or is monitored.

The categorisation for each assessment in this unit is shown in the assessment summary table.

Final Exam

The exam will be scheduled in the University examination period. The exam will be 2 hours in length and further details and guidance will be provided in the final week of classes.

Information regarding exam conditions and timetables can be found via the Student Portal. It is very important to note that the final exam period includes weekdays and weekends and all students are expected to complete the exam at the time specified in the exam timetable. The timetable will be available in Draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the exams and in Final form four weeks before the commencement of exams.

For unavoidable disruptions during exams, you should apply for Special Consideration as soon as possible. If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the Special Consideration process, the exam time will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period and you will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of the Supplementary Examination. Note that it is Macquarie University policy to not set early examinations - all students are expected to ensure that they are available until the final day of the official examination period. You are required to download your room and seat number from the exam website before the exam.

Class Timetable

The class timetable can be found through the Timetable portal.

A detailed Unit Schedule with lecture and practical topics, field trip information, assessment due dates, etc. will also be made available through iLearn.

The unit is taught via lectures, practical classes, fieldwork, readings, and assessment tasks. Students must make regular use of iLearn to access teaching and learning materials, to submit assessment tasks, to stay in touch with the unit, to contact lecturers and tutors, and to discuss issues and concepts with classmates.

Generally, you should attend:

• Weekly lectures: 2 x 1-hour live lectures
• Weekly practical classes: 1 x 2-hour practical class
• One compulsory field trip: 4-hours at Manly Lagoon (dates and details provided on iLearn).

Recordings of lectures will be made available for revision purposes through Echo360 on iLearn. Recordings will not be provided for practical class activities.

The 2-hour “hands-on” practical classes will be held either in the environment lab, in the field (i.e. outside!), or online, as specified in the Unit Schedule. They are designed to help you work towards the major assessments, to allow you to build on your understanding of core material from lectures, readings and other activities, and to develop some valuable generic and discipline-specific skills. For field-based practicals, meet in the usual practical room then proceed with your tutor to the field. Look at the practical instructions on iLearn to find out whether you need field equipment (e.g. enclosed shoes, hat/raincoat, water bottle, etc.) for your class.

There may be some weeks were there is no practical class and/or the lectures are pre-recorded. This will be indicated on the Unit Schedule. For example, in the week of the field trip, there are no on-campus lectures or pracs.

There are also pre-recorded lectures that you should listen to in the mid-semester break. It is important that you do this as the practical classes after the break assume that you are familiar with the terms and concepts presented.

You will also need to attend one 1/2 day (~4 hour) off-campus for a field trip to Manly Lagoon. Information and an itinerary for the field trip will be provided on iLearn. Note: this mandatory field trip will run rain, hail or shine! You will spend several hours outdoors in the field, so please ensure you have sturdy, enclosed footwear (no sandals or thongs), appropriate clothing, sunscreen, a hat and a raincoat. Water, lunch, snacks and transport for the day are your own responsibility.

Week 1 Classes

Classes start in Week 1. This includes two 1-hour lectures and a 2-hour online practical task that you can complete at anytime during the week (you do not need to come onto campus for this prac).

On-campus practicals commence in Week 2.

Unit Organisation

This unit is divided into four core modules with an introductory week and a conclusions week.

• Module 1 - Water in the Terrestrial Environment
• Module 2 - Coastal Environment
• Module 3 - Atmospheric Environment
• Module 4 - Visualising the Environment

The introductory week explains the unit, assessments and covers important library and scientific writing skills. The conclusions week provides a summary of the unit and important exam information and study tips.

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials 

There is no set textbook for this unit, but there are recommended readings for each week/module as noted on iLearn and in Leganto.

Technology Used and Required

This unit will use iLearn and associated technology. See the Instructions on how to log in to iLearn and the links below which will help you:

• Getting started
• Activities
• Assignments and grades
• Online study tips
• Discussion forums
• Lecture recordings
• Zoom Live Transcription

Computer-Based Learning

There are essential computer-based components of this unit, including pre-recorded online lectures, some weekly practical exercises, and online discussion forums for communicating with staff and other students in this unit. If you don't have your own computer, the University provides access through the computer labs (when they are not booked for classes) or in the Library. If you’re unsure of how to connect to the internet or use the computer system, help can be obtained at: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/.

Please note that at the beginning of each session our class lists are often incomplete (due to late transfers and changes of enrollment). In the first week of semester, if your name is missing from the enrollment list, you may not yet have access to the system. Try a couple of times, to make sure you have not made a typing error (remember your username and password are CaSe SeNsItIvE). If later in the session you suddenly find that your access to the iLearn site has been mysteriously barred, it is probably because your Student Services Fee has not been paid (this is imposed by the University Administration, not us).

General Discussion Forum and Announcements

The "General Discussion Forum" link on the unit's homepage is a communication system between you and the rest of the class (a bit like an online tutorial or bulletin board). In this unit, we use it to discuss important issues related to the unit. You are expected to read every posting to the discussion forum because important administrative and academic information will be posted there - it is your responsibility to stay up-to-date.

Unit-wide announcements will be shared through the Announcements function in iLearn under very important circumstances.

Student Workload

To successfully complete this 10 credit point unit, you should devote ~10 hours per week (on average). This means that you should spend several hours per week working towards completion of the assessments, doing the readings, etc. outside of the scheduled classes. Obviously this is dependent on the speed at which you learn and your ability to study effectively. You may need to spend extra time on different parts of the course content. Depending on when assessments are due, this workload will be spread over the semester. It is critical that you manage your time effectively throughout the session and work around other units and commitments you may have. However, keep in mind, grades are awarded on a demonstration of understanding and ability, not on time or effort!

We value student feedback and aim to continually improve this unit. We encourage students to provide constructive feedback via student surveys, to the teaching staff directly, or via the FSE Student Experience & Feedback link in the iLearn page.

Student feedback from the previous offering of this unit was very positive overall, especially in terms of practical and fieldwork activities and skills developed. We took on board feedback to reduce the number of assessment items, and so this offering not longer has module based quiz assessments. Instead the quizzes are provided as 'optional' - for you to hone your understanding of the lecture and practical materials along the way. The results of these quizzes do not count towards your unit marks, but the quizzes provide a way for you to practice and study for your final exam without as much end-of-session cramming!